Improved apparatus for raising sunken vessels



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Letters-Patent No. 96,7 34, dated Novem-ber 9, 1869.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RAISING- SUN'KEN VESSELS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

-Be it known that I, WILLIAM I). ROBINSON, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful' Improvements 'in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification,

in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of' the hull of a vessel, showing cable-openings in the side.

Figure 2 is a pla-n of a hull, withdeck removed.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section, showing the vessel submerged to the double deck.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consists in the arrangement of an airtight deck, the cable-colnpartments, and longitudinal partition, whereby sunken vessels may he readily raised.

In the drawings- A indicates the sides of the hull of the vessel. '15, the forward, and

C, the after water-tight compartment. f

a a', the masts, and

b, the keel.

I)l I)2 D D* represent the hold of the vessel, divided, longitudinally, by a partition, E, which is set a little distance from the keel or centre of the vessel, in

g figs. 1 and 2, through which cables c c c play.

. These cable-compartments forni an important part of my'invent-ioll, and will prove extremely valuable for the purposeA intended, as will be -seen when their operation and usev are hereinafter fully explained.

d d' represent the main deck, made double, with airtight 'space e between.

This is also an important feature of my invention,

as by it, with the water-tight compartment B and O, I expect to keep the hnll afloat, even when the hold and cable-coinpzutments are entirely iilled with water.

f f show n ater-openings in the bottom of the Vessel, and y g, the valves for letting in or shutting oft the water. -1

h h indicate the position of the pumps for freeing the vessel of water, which are worked by a steam-engine, placed in a house, Gr, on the afterdeck, which will always be above water when the'vessel is submerged to the air-tight deck.

The disadvantage of vessels now used in wrecking or raising sunken ships, Ste., is, that the cables running over the side, and attached to the wreck, have to be slipped, if the sea is rough, as the rising and falling cannot be overcome or endured. For this reason, I out the holes F F in the side of the hull, and form these compartments, as described, which allow a play of the cable or chains when the waves are run ning suiiiciently to rock the vessel.

The tops of these cable-compartments come over the centre of the vessel, as will be seen in tigs. 2 and 3, which makesthe lifting-power collie past the centre. l

These vesselsI will always be supplied with an engine, not only to pump, but-t0 propel them.

The operation of raising a vesseh'by my apparatus, is as follows:

Two hulls, formed as -within described, and having these cable-openi ngs on opposite sides, are placed over,

one each side of the sunken craft. Ihe vessels are then .submerged 'to the air-tight decks, and the cables or chains are run under the vessel at thebottom, and made taut. rlhe valves are then closed, and the steampulnps sett work to free the vessels ot water, and, as they gradually rise, they lift the sunken craft with them. y

To overcome the listing7 of each vessel, in consequence of the strain on the side, the water, or enough of it, is left in compartments D, 3 and 4, to keep the vessels equilibrium, and, when the strain is removed, this water is pumped out.

The vessels are startedforward, until the wreck again strikes in sliallower water, and then the same process 'is repeated. l

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The arrangement, as a whole, consisting of the airtight deck l d c, the cable-compartments F F, and the longitudinal partition E, the whole operating' in the manner and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto' signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

W. D. RUBINSON.

Titnesscs J. l. DnAkn, ALBERT Hamm. 

